Musical chime signal construction



June 7, 1949. F|SH 2,472,371

MUSICAL CHIME SIGNALCONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 21, 1945 INVENTOR 660/865 16 F/sH W ATTQRNEY Patented June 7, 1949 SIGAL CHIME SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION George R. Fish, Norwalk, Conn., ass'ignor to Edwards and Company, Inc., Norwalk, Conn., a corporation 01 New York Application December-21, 1945, Serial No. 636,476

9 Claims.

This invention-relates to musical chime signal construction. 7

One of the objects ofthis invention is to provide a mechanically-actuatable musical signallingconstruction that .will be of inexpensive and practical construction and so constructed and operating to achieve consistently dependable tone-emission-even though the device be mounted upon a door and hence subjected to jar-ring,

vibration, and the like. Another object is to provide a dependable quick, ,and 'dpuble acting chime striking mechanism in which operating noises of the actuating-mechanism are dependably controlled or eliminated so as to lessen or avoid interference with ltone emission. Another object is to provide a manually-actuatable musicalsignalling device such as may be applied at adoor or like entrance toan apartment, home, or the like that will be compact and durable in construction, well adapted to meet the rigors of varied manual actuation, and yet consistently emitting the desired velvety musical tone or tones. Another object is to provide a construction ,of the above-mentioned character in which successive actuation of two differently-pitched soundingelemen-ts may be dependably achieved without impairment of musical quality. Other objects will be-in ,part obvious or in part pointed ou'thereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the featuresaof construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangements of part-sas will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, inwhich is shown by way of illustration-.apreferred embodimentgof myinvention,

Fig. l is a front elevation of the signalling chime 'deviceas :seen with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation as seen from the bottom in Fig. 1, the device being shown with the cover "applied and the cover broken away 'or insertion, and

Fig-3 is a-f-r'a'gmentary centra1 sectional view as, seen along the line 3-43 of "Fig. '1, showing also the inanner'of installation of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar partsthr'o'ughout the several views of the drawing'.

The device preferably comprises a base iliL-of sheet lmetal peripherallya flanged-as at I l -.-to rest against a vertical surface such as the inside {face or as 061001. 1 2 (Fig. ;3) toawhich :the device -may 2. be-secured as by screws, the base it having suitable holes 13 for that purpose.

Along the respective longitudinal side edges of the base It are supported two vibratable sounding elements l4 and I5, illustratively taking the form of elongated metal plates or bars preferably differently dimensioned so as to emit distinguishing tones. The elements M, l5 preferably are parallel to each other and may be supported in such relation to the base In in any suitable way as, for example, by L-shaped brackets it (see Figs. 1 and 2) secured as by spot welding to the base it and provided at their outer ends with suitable means, including bush.- ings ll of rubber or other resilient or cushioning meansthat extend through suitable holes in the sounding elements l4, 55, thereby also avoiding damping of their tone-emitting vibration.

Extending transversely of the space between the elements l4, I5 is a striker l8 comprising an elongated member l9 preferably of metal so as to have appropriate weight and adapted alternately to strike the elements it and i5 by way of its respective ends which are preferably provided with striker heads 2| and 22 made of a material like fiber or hard Wood, the heads being set and secured in suitable recesses in the ends of the member l9 which can be of round crosssection.

At its midpoint the member i9 is secured to the upper end of a fiat spring member 23 which extends downwardly to a considerable extent, being anchored at its lower end so that it normally assumes a position parallel to the parallel sounding elements l4, l5 and preferably midway between the two. This anchorage may comprise an arm of an 'L-shaped bracket 24, one arm of which rests flatwise against the base plate I10 to which it is secured as by spot welding so that its other arm lies in a vertical plane for attachment thereto of the spring arm 23 as by rivets;

25 (Fig. '3). In the normal upright position of the spring arm 23, the striker heads El, 22 of the striker l8 are equally spaced from the respective sounding elements 14 and I5.

In front of the resilient or spring arm 23 is pivotally mounted a rocker arm 26, being secured near its lower end to a shaft 21 provided at its ends with trunnions receivable respectively in bearing holes 28 and 29 in the base plate l0 and inthe front plate'3ll of a bracket 38 made of sheet metal and stamped to provide side arms 30 "and 3il which are flanged at their lower ends (Fig. 2) by which they are secured to the back plate in as by spot welding.

The front plate 3i! and the base plate I6 are also provided with aligned holes 32 and 33 to serve as bearings for the trunnioned end of a heavy sleeve 34 (Fig. 3) which has secured to it in any suitable manner a lever or plate member 35 so that the plate has to partake of the rotary motion of the sleeve 34. The latter has a hole 34* extending through it to receive the inner end of a shaft 36 that extends through a hole I2 in the door panel. The shaft 36 being secured at its right-hand end to a hub 3'! that is rotatably carried in a plate 38 that overlies the hole I2 and is secured to the outer face of the door panel I2 in any suitable way as by screws 39. The hub 3'I is provided, externally of the plate 38, with any suitable means for manually giving the shaft 36 a rotary motion, and such a means may comprise a lever 46. The shaft 36 is received in the hole 34 of the sleeve 34 to an extent varying with the thickness of the door panel I2 and a setscrew 4i may be employed to lock the shaft 36 and the sleeve 34 together.

The pivoted arm 26 and the driving plate 35 are suitably interconnected so that the one may be driven from the other, and a suitable connection may comprise a pin-and-slot or gear teeth arrangement, as is better shown in Fig. 1, in which the lower end of the arm 26, which can be of sheet-metal stamping, is provided with a downwardly-projecting member 42 receivable between the spaced tooth-like elements 43 formed in the driving plate 35 which can also be of sheet-metal stamping. A downwardly-projecting part of the driving plate 35 carries a forwardly-projecting stud 44 to which one end of a coiled spring 45 is secured, the other end being secured to a stud 46 carried by and projecting forwardly from the pivoted arm 26. The spring 45 is preferably normally tensioned.

The sheet metal of the driving plate 35 is stamped and bent to provide, at its lower portion, two horizontally spaced bendable arms 41 and 48, projecting forwardly slightly beyond the front plate 36* of the frame 36 to coact respectively with downwardly-projecting ears 49 and 56 formed integrally out of the sheet metal of the frame 36.

The plate 35 is stamped to have a laterallyprojecting arm (Figs. 1 and 2) to which is connected one end of a coiled spring 52, the other end of which is connected to a bracket 53 that is secured to and extends upwardly from the side arm 36 of the frame 36, spring 52 being normally tensioned and thus biasing the driving plate clockwise as shown in Fig. 1, holding it in clockwise tilted position to an extent determined by the engagement of the arm 4'! with the car 49, the engagement between these two parts being preferably damped or cushioned as by a rubber or felt sleeve 55 slipped over the arm 41. In such position of the driving plate 35, the pivoted arm 26 is held in a tilted position toward the left as viewed in Fig. l, aided by the tensioned spring 45. The upper end of pivoted arm 26 has secured to it a cross-piece 56 which is bent at its ends rearwardly to provide actuating members 57 and 58 which project rearwardly beyond the plane of the front edge of the vertical spring arm 23.

If the external actuator (Fig. 3) is now turned to swing the driving plate 35 in counterclockwise direction (Fig. l) against the tension of spring 52, the arcuate movement of the stud 44 carries the lower end of the tensioned spring to the right of the vertical line of the pivots 21 and 34 and also increases its tension, the connection 42-43 causing the pivoted arm 26 to swing to the right. Due to the substantial spacing between the parts 5'! and 58 of the crosspiece 56, the major part of the complete clockwise stroke of the arm 26 takes place without effecting movement of the spring arm 23; just about when the midpoint of such clockwise swing has taken place, the stud 44 has carried the lower end of spring 45 to the right of the vertical line of the pivots 21 and 34, whereupon the tension of the spring 46 aids in completing the rotational movement of the pivoted arm 26 and the driving plate 35, effecting a sort of snap action, thereby bringing the actuating arm 5! into engagement with the spring arm 23 at substantial velocity, the other actuating arm 58 being well to the right of the range of resilient bending of the spring arm 23 which results from the engagement of part 57 with the arm 23. The kinetic energy thus imparted to the relatively heavy striker member I9 causes it to continue to move toward the right and to impact the striker head 22 against the sounding element I5 from which it immediately rebounds; the striking action, due to the coaction of the resiliency of the spring arm 23 and the inertia effect of the striker member I9, is velvety yet energetic, and a high quality of tone is emitted by the vibrating sounding element I5.

During the above-described swing of the parts 35 and 26, the arm 48 of the driving plate 35, also preferably provided with a cushioning sleeve 56, is brought into engagement with the ear 56 of the frame 36 noiselessly, and in limiting the counter-clockwise swing of the driving plate 35, the clockwise swing of the arm 26 and crosspiece 56 is halted at a point where the right-hand end of the cross-piece 56 is well clear of engagement with the sounding element I5, the spacing between the actuating parts 51' and 58 being such that, upon rebounding of the striker structure I8, the actuating part 51 is so far spaced to the left of the rebounding flat sprin 23 that the latter either does not engage it at all or, if it does engage it, does so so near the end of the rebound stroke that a rebound powerful enough again to strike the sounding element I5 does not take place.

Upon release of the external handle or actuator 46, the tensioned spring 52 swings the driving plate 35 in clockwise direction, thus reversing the above-described actions in that the other actuator 58 of the cross-piece 56 is brought at substantial velocity into engagement with the spring arm 23 to give the striker member I9 sufficient kinetic energy to carry it to the left to impact its striker head 2| against the other sounding element I4 with sounding action as above described, the striker structure l8 rebounding and assuming the normal intermediate position until the external actuator 40 is again set into motion against the spring 52.

During the striking of the element I4, the cushioned arm 41 comes into engagement with the ear 49 of the frame 36 noiselessly and limits the swing to the left of the pivoted arm 26 so that the crosspiece 56 does not strike the sounding element I 4. The cross-piece remains in this left-most position, thus holding the actuator member 51 well to the left of the spring arm 23 and thus giving it a substantial range of swinging movement, upon subsequent actuation, to actuate the spring arm 23.

The mechanism and assembly will be seen to be inexpensive and simple, and the mechanism provides simple adjustments to effect the desired arrogant iil and the actuator arms' fl andffl of the cross piece at are likewiseol suflicient' iength-and can: i

s't'i' iicte'd to be easily bendabli'e so tl i'at"tl'i'eir spec iirgs from each other 'and with respectto the-nor mairverticaior mid positionor thespring arm n ni ay be easily efiebted,

-A suitable cover or closure 60 (Figs; 2 "an'dtl closes tl're entire "mechanism" over, havihg si'de' walls rfil which telescopicallydiiterfit with the secured 'in axi-y siiitable manner, preferablyde tablr'ably; In 'the side' w all's adjacent the-sauna: ingrelementswfl, 1'5, suitabIe aper turesifi I m'ay be provided 'TfOI sound transmission; the entire en-- closure funotioni-n'gasia resonator;

It 1 will *thus be seen that there been provided in-this invention a mus-ical' chime signalling construction in which the various obj ects' hereinbei'ore' no'ted, together with many thor 'o'u'ghl-y practical advantages, are successfully achieved: It will be seen that the apparatus is compact in construction and; of highly desirable action for achieving high -qualityiof musicaltone production and yet is well adapted to withstand the varying conditions of hardpractioal use;

-As manypossible embodiments may berm-ade df the above invention and as manynhanges mi-ght be-made in theembodiment above-'set forth, i is to -be understoodthat'alt-matter hereinbefore set" forth or shown 'inthe-accompanying drawing is to be=interpreted-as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a signalling. device-havingspaced soundih-g" element's, striker means, -.actuating--means therefor, the combination of means mounting said striker means-betWeen 'said soundingelements for movement in directions firstto strike one'element'a'nd. then the other, said-mounting means comprisingian elongated springmember having stri'kerghiea'ns secured at one endthereofi means supporting and anchoring theother end oiesai'd spring member in a position between saids'o'undi'n'geleineiitsto hold'the striker means out of engagement with both when said spring member is in normal or unflexed condition, two pivotally mounted lever means having means forming an interconnection between them to swing one of them in response to swinging of the other and having spring means coacting with at least one of them in such relationship to its pivot as to eflect a snap action of pivoting movement thereof in either direction about its pivot, means for actuating one of said lever means about its pivot, and two relatively widely spaced actuating members carried by the other of said lever means and positioned one on either side of said spring member for individual impacting thereof against said spring member under the snap action of said spring means, thereby to effect flexing of said spring member and impacting of the striker means against one of said sounding elements, the spacing between said two spaced actuating members being such that the leading one of them is always out of the path of flexing of said spring member as the trailing actuating member effects flexing of the spring member.

2. In a signalling device having spaced sounding elements, striker means, actuating means 6., therefor," the" combination or "111681118 mounting; said striker meansbei'ivwz'errsaid -sounding ele merits formovement in directions iii-st to'strike: one element" and? then the other, saidmountingmeans comprising an-"elongated spring' menib'er having striker-means seeured at one end thereof," m'ean's supporting and anchoringthe other'end'ofi said spring member in position betweensaid sounding elements to-hold the striker means out of engagement with both w hensaid spring ber -is in normal or unfiexed condition', impact1ngx means having two-"spaced actuating parts for suc cessive coaction 'with saiidzspring member', means mountingsaid impacting niearis ior movement in a generail path transversely 'o'f the line of saids spnng member, 'an'd ineans foractuating said im pacting 'means in a eycle of :atdeast two sue-v cessiv estrokes r of ribstantial velocity, one: iof which is in direction th'e reverse: of the other? thereby to-"cause the trailing actuating- :memben on one stroke to said spring'zmember and; thereby cause :saidtstriker means to impact one sounding-element :andito causettheitrailingrmem ber on the reverse -stroke to impactsai'despring m'emb er 'andzcausethezstriker: meansatosimpact other sounding element, the spacing betweenisaidj actuating members maintaining ithe aleadingi actuating member on each stroke vout-(of the path 1 of flexing of said spring member}:

-'3. In a signalling device havingispaced: sound ing elements, striker me'ans, actuating *means:

therefor, the combination; ofv meansrmountingsaidi' striker-"means between said soundingielements formovement-1m directions first' to-strike one: element; and 1 then the-other, said mounting" means come: prising an elongated spring :lmemberhaving: striker means secured:-.at.:.oneend-thereof, means; supporting and anchoring "the other rend: of :saiijf springmember-imposition betweenisaidzsounding elements to hold-wthe striker: means. outofiaengage ment with i both whenisaidwsprin'g member is; tinnormal or unflexed condition; a 1 cross-piece zhav-= ing two spaced ip'arts-v adapted -for su ccessive en gagement of said sprin member, I and meansiior giving said cross-epiece asnap act-ionin'reversible strokes to transmitHerring' -energy .torthesprin'g'l member by engagement therewith- 0f: that actu-i atingi part that is-the= trailing; part; of Teach stroke. 1

4. -In-a signallingidevice having spacedrsourrd' ing elements, striker means, actuating means therefor, the combination of means mounting said striker means between said sounding elements for movement in directions first to strike one element and then the other, said mounting means comprisin an elongated spring member having striker means secured at one end thereof, means supporting and anchoring the other end of said spring member in position between said sounding elements to hold the striker means out of engagement with both when said spring member is in normal or unflexed condition, a cross-piece having two spaced parts adapted for successive striking against said spring member, means for giving said cross-piece a snap action in reversible strokes to strike said spring member and transmit flexing energy to the spring member, and means limiting the length of said strokes of said cross-piece to halt it at points to prevent the trailing actuating part on each stroke from following through on the flexing of the spring member.

5. A signalling device having spaced sounding elements, striker means positioned therebetween, spring means mounting said striker means in a position intermediate of said sounding elements and capable upon being flexed to permit move ment of the striker means against one or the other of the sounding elements according to the direction of flexing, and reversibly acting means movable independently of said spring means for striking said sprin means to flex it and effect striking of a sounding element according to the direction of actuation of said reversibly acting means.

6. A signalling device having spaced sounding elements, striker means positioned therebetween, spring means mounting said striker means in a position intermediate of said sounding elements and capable upon being flexed to permit move-- ment of the striker means against one or the other of the sounding elements according to the direction of flexing, a member movable independently of said spring means provided with two spaced impacting parts and having means mounting it for reversible movement relative to said spring means to bring one or the other of said impacting parts into engagement with the spring means, and means for limiting the movement of said impacting parts'in impacting direction to prevent each from materially following up the flexing of the spring means resulting from its impact.

'7. In a signalling device comprising a sounding element, striker means, actuating means therefor comprising a striker and spring means normally biasing the striker out of contact with the sounding element, two pivotally mounted lever members having spring means acting upon at least one of them to effect a snap action, said lever having means forming a mechanical connection between the two, and impacting means responsive to said snap action of said levers and actuated by at least one of the levers to give said striker means a blow against the bias of said spring means and thereby impact the striker against said sounding element.

8. In a chime signalling device comprising a plurality of spaced sounding elements, striker means mounted between said striker elements for contactin first one and then the other of said elements, means for actuating the striking means which comprises, a spring member fixedly supported at one end intermediate said sounding elements and supporting said striker means adjacent its other end, said spring member being of sufficient length so that it may be flexed in opposite directions to cause said striker to strike against,

first one and then the other of said sounding elements, an arm and means for pivotally supporting said arm at one end, said arm having. adjacent its other end a cross piece having thereon a pair of spaced contact members projecting from the cross piece so that as said arm is rocked said contacts will alternately strike saidspring member intermediate its ends thus flexing it first in the direction of one of said sounding elements and then in the direction of the other.

of said sounding elements, said arm having an extension beyond the pivot mountin for the arm, a driving plate, means for rotatably mounting said plate, and means for rotating said plate to oscillate said arm thus bringing the contact members thereof in successive contact with said spring,

said driving plate having thereon a pair of diverging teeth spaced apart to receive between them the said extension of said arm and to cooperate therewith to provide a rocking engagement betweenthe plate and said arm, means for biasing said plate to keep it from dead center while at rest, and spring means interconnecting said arm intermediate its ends and said plate and movable with said plate across the pivot of said plate on each stroke of said arm thereby accelerating the movement of said arm just prior to the strikingof said spring by said contact members respectively.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in combination with means for limiting the rotation of said plate to prevent the said contact members on said cross piece from materially following up the flexing of said spring member following a blow by either of said contact members.

' GEORGE R. FISH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

